I was looking for one the other day and asked at the pharmacy. They told me that they don't always keep them in stock (and only ever get a few at a time) because they aren't big sellers anymore due to worries about the mercury. It's basically hit or miss if you can find them.

You're probably better off calling the pharmacy before you go to see if they have them in stock or ordering them online.

ETA -- I live in Nassau, but I was at a CVS in Suffolk b/c I needed a thermometer for my horses... They didn't say anything about not being allowed to sell them. They actually even told me they had a few in stock just a few days before but sold out... However, I looked it up and there does appear to be an ordinance that was passed in 2001 to ban the sale of mercury thermometers in 2001. I guess the woman was misinformed... Maybe try Nassau county stores or order online???

They still make and sell analog liquid-filled thermometers, just not with the deadly mercury.

From wikipedia:

The liquid used can be pure ethanol or toluene or kerosene or iso-amyl acetate, depending on manufacturer and working temperature range. Since these are transparent, the liquid is made more visible by the addition of a red or blue dye. One half of the glass containing the capillary is usually enamelled white or yellow to give a background for reading the scale.